7.4 Private Donations to the USG and Its Institutions

The Board of Regents, recognizing that public institutions are dependent, in part, on private funding (just as private institutions are partially dependent on public funding), encourages the institutions under its control to seek the support of alumni, friends, corporations, and other private individuals and organizations that might be interested in contributing to the welfare of the institutions, their students, and their faculties.

Funds raised from private donations may be used in support of the mission and objectives of the institution, including funds for student scholarships, salary supplements, construction of physical facilities, and gifts and grants for other purposes as may be designated by the donor. However, institutions are not authorized to commit any state funds for challenge or matching grants or gifts for the construction of facilities or for other purposes without prior approval of the Chancellor. The Board of Regents shall not consider gifts, contributions, or income from endowments held for the benefit of any University System of Georgia (“USG”) institution in determining the allocation of state funds to that institution.

Private donations to a separately incorporated Cooperative Organization established pursuant to Board of Regents’ Policy shall not be subject to control by the Board of Regents or the institution administration except as otherwise provided in Board Policy or by the Memoranda of Understanding established between institution and the Cooperative Organization.

A USG institution may not accept gifts of real property except as provided in Board of Regents’ Policy 9.9, Real Property Ownership and Asset Management. A USG institution may otherwise accept gifts, bequests, agreements, or declarations of trust that do not carry obligations to the institution that may conflict with state law or Board of Regents’ Policy and that do not impose a financial burden on the institution beyond that which can be managed within the institution’s current budget. If acceptance of the gift or donation would require the institution to incur additional cost that cannot be borne within the institution’s current resources, the institution must obtain the approval of the Board of Regents before accepting the gift or donation.

Each institution must maintain a report of all gifts received by the institution and its cooperative organizations through private donations under procedures established by the USG Chief Fiscal Officer.

Each President is authorized to execute those documents necessary to provide proper fiscal management of those funds accepted under this authorization and, at his or her discretion, to further delegate the authority to execute such documents to the Chief Business Officer of the institution.

7.4.1 Naming of Places, Colleges, or Schools

The Board of Regents considers the naming of a place or an academic unit in honor of an individual, corporation, foundation, or organization to be one of the highest and most distinct honors that it can bestow. Namings may be authorized for outstanding and distinguished service, for philanthropic giving, or for both. The President of each institution should ensure that the proposed naming is consistent with the interest of the institution and the USG and is commensurate with the level of service or philanthropic giving from the person, persons, group, or groups for which the naming will be made. Namings authorized without associated fund raising should be the exception.

Naming of colleges and schools of all USG institutions and all real estate, facilities, and property owned or leased by the USG, including facilities constructed, donated, or acquired by affiliated organizations of the institutions, requires prior authorization by the Chancellor, the USG Chief Administrative Officer, and the Board of Regents. All proposed namings shall be submitted to the USG Chief Administrative Officer who shall distribute the proposal for integrated review and, in conjunction with the Chancellor, submit the request to the Board of Regents for approval.

Namings authorized by the Board of Regents shall not be modified without approval of the Board. If a situation occurs that may warrant the removal of a name that was previously approved by the Board of Regents, the decision whether to remove the name lies in the sole discretion of the Board in consultation with the Chancellor.

The President of an institution is authorized to name and to remove the name of interior spaces and academic units subordinate to colleges and schools, such as departments, without prior approval of the Board. Institutions shall maintain a report on interior namings and naming removals.

The namings of facilities and features of an institution will endure only for the useful life of the facility or feature and not in perpetuity. If a facility or feature is substantially changed, a named facility or feature may no longer exist and the President, in his or her discretion, may seek Board of Regents’ approval to transfer the name to a new facility or feature.

The Board of Regents will authorize external namings (places, colleges, and schools) to honor a living person only when that person has been disassociated from employment by the USG or from local, state, or federal government employment for at least two years prior to seeking Board of Regents’ approval.

Institution Naming Policy:

Institutions shall also maintain their own naming policy, which should establish minimums for financial commitments corresponding to such naming opportunity that are benchmarked against institutions similar in size, scope, and mission. Each institution shall provide a copy of its naming policy to the USG Chief Administrative Officer for approval.